Web segment dispenser



Dec. 7, 1965 J. A. DREHER WEB SEGMENT DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

Filed Jan. 30, 1962 FIG.1

INVENTOR JOHN A. DREHER ATTO Ey AGENT Dec. 7, 1965 J. A. DREHER WEB SEGMENT DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 FIG.4

INVENTOR JOHN A. D EHER Dec. 7, 1965 J. A. DREHER WEB SEGMENT DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30. 1962 INVENTOR J HN A- DREHER BY ATTo NEY fla/ AGENT United States Patent 3,221,582 WEB SEGMENT DISPENSER John A. Dreher, Trucksville, Pa., assignor to General Cigar Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,913 2 Claims. (CI. 8324) This invention relates to the handling of webs of sheet material and is more particularly concerned with the dispensing of a tenuous web and delivering predetermined lengths of the web to a desired work locus.

The problem of automatically withdrawing a soft and tender web from a roll thereof, severing uniform-sized lengths or segments from the payed out web, and depositing the segments in a smooth condition in a predetermined work area has become of particular importance with the development of tobacco sheets. Thus, as disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,592,553 and 2,592,554 to W. G. Frankenburg and P. W. Garbo, such sheets are made by mixing dry-ground tobacco with a highly viscous aqueous solution of a binder to form a paste, spreading the paste in a thin layer, and drying the layer to leave a coherent but tenuous web or tobacco sheet. Segments of predetermined size from such sheets are desired in the manufacture of smoking products. For example, segments of tobacco sheet may be used as wrappers or binders in the manufacture of cigars. Prior mechanisms for the handling and dispensing of webs have generally failed to function successfully in the case of tenuous webs such as tobacco sheets because these mechanisms, for the most part, depend for proper operation upon an appreciable tensile strength in the web being handled. Applicant developed a successful mechanism for the handling of tobacco sheet used as a cigar bunch binder but this mechanism cannot be readily attached to a conventional cigar machine to supply from a continuous roll of wrapper sheet segments that are properly deposited on the wrapper die of the cigar machine.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for handling a tenuous web and dispensing web segments to a desired work locus.

Another important object is to provide an apparatus and method for delivering from a continuous tobacco sheet segments of predetermined length that are deposited in a smooth condition on the wrapper die of a cigar machine.

In accordance with this invention, uniform segments of a tenuous web are dispensed from a roll thereof in a smooth condition for transfer to a predetermined work area by the steps of gently pulling out the starting or leading end of the web away from the roll by the combined action of an arcuately-traveling first suction surface and a succeeding rectilinearly-moving second suction surface while both surfaces are moving unidirectionally and while the web is held to the surfaces by suction, stopping the unidirectional movement of the first and second suction surfaces and bringing the free face of the leading end of the web on the second suction surface into overlying relationship with a third suction surface, drawing the web to the third surface by applying suction thereto while releasing the suction from the second suction surface, returning the second suction surface while suction is cut off to its original position so that it is no longer in overlying relationship with the third suction surface, severing the leading end of the Web carried by the third suction surface from the trailing portion of the web, transferring the severed web portion on the third suction surface to the desired work area, and reapplying suction to the second suction surface before it again moves unidirectionally together with the first suction surface.

3,221,582 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 More particularly, the invention contemplates means for rotatably supporting the roll of tenuous web, vacuum roll means for drawing the web along an arcuate path from the roll, reciprocating vacuum shuttle means downstream of the vacuum roll means for simultaneously moving the web along a rectilinear path, the shuttle means being adapted to move reciprocatingly away from and toward the vacuum roll means, vacuum transfer means cooperating with the shuttle means at the end of its movement in one of its two reciprocating directions to receive the leading end portion of the payed out web from the shuttle means and operative to hold the leading end portion of the web while the shuttle means moves in the other of its two reciprocating directions, and cutting means operative to sever a desired web segment from the payed out web at the end of each movement of the shuttle means in said other direction, the transfer means being effective thereupon to move the severed end portion of the web to the work site.

It is a feature of the invention that the tenuous web is payed out and severed to provide a plurality of segments of predetermined length for transfer to the work locus while the Web is at all times maintained in a smooth, unwrinkled state free from damaging tensions.

It is another feature of the invention that the web is payed out under continuous positive control of suction surfaces whereby the web is delivered without reliance on appreciable tensile strength in the web.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view diagram showing schematically the principal components of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1, as seen when viewed along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation, similar to FIG. 2, of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a detailed embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as seen in FIG. 2 and as viewed along line 4--4 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tenuous web or ribbon W is drawn from roll R around idler roll I and over suction roll S. Thence, web W extends downwardly along the flat rectilinear surface of reciprocating suction shuttle H which, in its downward movement for a distance corresponding substantially to the predetermined length of the web segment to be delivered, covers the surface of suction transfer head T that is mounted on an arcuately-movable arm A. A reciprocable knife blade K is adapted to sever web W along a line between the bottom of shuttle H and the top of transfer head T. The web segment on the surface of transfer head T is then carried by swinging arm A toward wrapper die'D and, when the surface of head T is substantially parallel to and in contact with the surface of die D, the web segment is deposited on die D by cutting off the suction in head T and simultaneously applying suction in die D. Thereupon, arm A swings back to the vertical position. At this point, the cycle of operation repeats itself, beginning with the downward rectilinear travel of shuttle H while suction is applied therethrough on web W and the simultaneous rotation of suction roll S to draw web W over the surface of transfer head T, there being.

cylindrical surface, and has an internal partition P which divides the chamber within roll S into an upper vacuumized section and a lower section at atmospheric pressure. The structural details of this type of suction roll are disclosed in applicants US. Patent 2,954,776, issued October 4, 1960.

It is to be noted that a characteristic aspect of the apparatus and method of this invention is that the web is conveyed by the shuttle to the transfer head on a fiat surface and along a wholly rectilinear path. By reason of this operation, the web will hang straight, and wrinkles will be avoided, in this important phase of its movement. It is a feature of the invention, therefore, that the web is handled in a manner which takes into full account its tenuous nature and insures delivery of the web in a fiat, straight and non-wrinkled state to the suction head from which it is directly deposited upon the surface of the die where it is to be utilized.

Because of the shape of the die in some cases, it sometimes is desirable to cut the web on a bias, rather than at right angles to the sides of the web, because by so doing it is possible to form a web segment which more closely fits the shape of the die, and there is consequently less waste. In other words, when the web is cut on a bias, the web segment is in the form of an oblique-angled parallelogram, as seen in FIG. 3, rather than in the form of a rectangle, as seen in FIG. 2. To effect such an operation, the lower end of the shuttle H is given the form shown by shuttle H in FIG. 3, and the transfer head T is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to its supporting arm, as shown by the head T on the arm A in FIG. 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a knife blade (not shown) corresponding to the knife blade K is positioned to move into the space between the lower edge of shuttle H and the upper edge of head T. The suction roll S remains the same as suction roll S and the head T, the roll S and the shuttle H are all provided with suction apertures (not shown) corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, however, the shuttle H nevertheless has a flat surface, as does the shuttle H, for engagement by the web, and the shuttle moves rectilinearly toward and away from the suction head T, which receives a web segment W in the form of an oblique-angled parallelogram, as seen in FIG. 3, for transfer to the die D.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the web handling and dispensing apparatus more specifically illustrated includes a supporting frame, indicated generally at and having lateral uprights 12 and 14 and transverse bottom strips 16. This frame assembly is mounted on front and rear vertical legs 19 and 29 which, in turn, are supported by a base frame 22. Supported upon arms extending rearwardly from uprights 12 and 14 is a reel assembly adapted to support rotatably the web roll from which the web is to be payed out and delivered in severed segments.

Thus, supported between arms 25 is an axle rod 29, and two arms 32, interconnected at their ends to form a U-shaped bracket, are rotatably mounted opposite ends of rod 29. Near the upper ends of arms 32 is mounted a freely rotatable idler roll 34, and arms 32 are biased by a spring 35, which extends from the upright of the frame to an extension 33 of one of arms 32, and the tension of which may be adjusted as desired. A rotatable bearing sleeve 37 surrounds axle 29 and supports two reel ends 38 and 39 between which the roll R of the tenuous web is suitably disposed. The reel ends 38 and 39 suitably have inner tapered faces which are pressed into frictional engagement with the ends of a hollow core (not shown) on which the web roll R is conveniently wound. Reel end 39 is pressed onto one end of bearing sleeve 37 and reel end 38 is adjustably fastened by a set screw or the like (not shown) onto the other end of sleeve 37. Thus, web roll R rotates as a unit with reel ends 38 and 39 and sleeve 37 about axle 29. A sensitive brake is provided to control the free rotation of roll R. This brake is defined by a rigid bracket 48 mounted upon one of the arms 25 and holding one end of a leather strip or brake band 50 which is looped around a circumferential brake drum 51 supported on the sleeve 37 and which has its other end attached to a light coil spring 53 suspended from a post 54 on one of the arms 32. A lever arm 55 is secured at 56 to one of the arms 25 of the frame and carries at its end a second freely-rotatable idler roll 57, corresponding to roll I in FIG. 1, with knobs 58 being provided to move the roll 57 to facilitate threading of the web W into the machine.

As shown in FIG. 5, web W from roll R is looped around idler rolls 34 and 57 and is then passed to sueceeding portions of the machine, as will be described below. When a forward pull is exerted on the web, idler roll 34 moves clockwise as seen in FIG. 5, since it is attached to rotatably-supported arms 32. Such clockwise movement of idler roll 34 causes a slackening of the loop defined by brake band 50 and spring 53, with the result that Web roll R, with reel ends 38 and 39 and bearing sleeve 37, is free to rotate on axle 29 and the web is freely unwound from roll R as it is pulled over idler rolls 34 and 57 toward the succeeding portions of the machine. When the pull on the web is stopped, idler roll 34 moves counterclockwise to its original position under the influence of spring 35, which was displaced to the left, as seen in FIG. 5, while the web was being pulled. With the return of idler roll 34 and arms 32 to their original positions, brake band 50 again engages brake drum 51 and keeps the web roll R from unwinding itself by reason of its momentum.

Traction is applied to the web W to pay it out from the roll R by intermittently-moving surfaces to which the web is adhered by suction. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, the web is guided by the idler roll 57 upon the surface of the suction roll S, which is rotatably mounted between the uprights 12 and 14. The suction or vacuum roll S is defined by a hollow shaft 62 held in a fixed position in a support 64, shaft 62 having a slit aperture 66 in its surface. A cylindrical casing 68 is rotatably mounted on shaft 62 with the ends of casing 68 bearing against suitable shoulders (not shown) formed on shaft 62. As previously indicated, the suction roller S corresponds in structural details substantially to the roll disclosed in US. Patent 2,954,776. Casing 68 is provided at one end with gear teeth 69 which mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel 70 so that rotation of gear wheel 70 will impart rotation to cylindrical casing 68 about shaft 62. The free, open end of shaft 62 has an elbow fitting 63 which is used for attachment to a flexible hose (not shown) connected to a vacuum source (not shown). Thus, when a vacuum is drawn in hollow shaft 62, a vacuum is also drawn in the annular space between shaft 62 and casing 68 and, since cylindrical casing 68 is provided with a plurality of apertures on its periphery, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, air will be sucked in through each aperture and the web W will be adhered to the surface of casing 68 and will travel with the casing along an arcuate path as the casing rotates.

From the vacuum roll S, the Web passes to the shuttle H, which is in the form of a hollow rectangular casing or chamber having its rearward wall, i.e., the wall facing the web roll R, formed with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the apertures in the suction roll casing 68, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. A guide plate 77, which is parallel to but spaced from the rearward wall of the shuttle, is suitably supported by frame 10 between the roll S and the transfer head T to form a passageway through which the web passes as it leaves suction roll S. The shuttle H is mounted for vertical rectilinear reciprocation in the frame 10 and is guided by suitable guides as indicated at and 81, the guide 80, for example, being in the form of rods which extend through an apertured arm 82 carried by the shuttle. Like the interior of casing 68, the interior of the shuttle H is connected by means of a flexible pipe (not shown), by way of a fitting $4, to a vacuum source (not shown). Thus, when a vacuum is drawn in the shuttle I 1, air will ;be sucked in through each aperture of its apertured rearward wall and the web W will be adhered to the surface of the shuttle and will travel with the shuttle as it moves rectilinearly away from the vacuum roll 8. The guide plate 77 covers the shuttle when it is in its upper position but a predetermined portion of the lower end of the shuttle emerges during the downward travel of the shuttle to expose the corresponding portion of its apertured rearward wall and the portion of the web W which is carried by it. Thus the shuttle is adapted to undergo reciprocating rectilinear motion with an amplitude substantially equal to the length of the web segment to be supplied.

Driving of the suction roll S and the shuttle H is effected from a cam shaft 85 journalled in the frame and connected to any convenient source of driving power (not shown) suitably transmitted to the cam shaft by a chain ,87 from a pinion 88 over gear 89 and bevel gears 90 and 91. Mounted on cam shaft 85 is a cam wheel 94 engaged by a cam follower 95 carried at the lower end of a lever arm 96 pivoted at 97 and having a slotted arm 98 which is connected to a driving rod 99. The upper end of rod 99 is connected to a rack 100. Rack 100 is engaged by a gear wheel 101 mounted on a stud 102. S tu d"102 also rotatably supports adjacent gear wheel 70 which meshes with the teeth 69 of suction roll casing 68, gear wheel 70 having an integral ratchet 101. A pawl 104 mounted on the face of gear wheel 101 locks with a tooth of ratchet 101' when the rack 100 moves downwardly, and thus causes gear wheel 70 to rotate simultaneously with gear wheel 101. Gear wheel 101 is also in meshing engagement with a pinion 102. Pinon 102' is rigidly mounted on a shaft 106 which extends across the frame between uprights 12 and 14, and a pinion 103 mounted on shaft 106 drives a pinion 103', carried on a shaft 104', which engages a rack 105 carried by the shuttle Shaft 104' carries a second pinion 108 engaging a second rack 109 rr d by e s ut l nd la e a ace from the rack 105 in order to insure uniform vertical reciprocating movement of the shuttle. Pinion 108 is driven from a pinion 110 fixedly mounted on shaft 106. The fixedlymounted pinions and the cam wheel are secured to their respective shafts by clamping hubs in conventional manner.

By reason of the relative relationships described, when the cam follower 95 rides on a decreasing radius arc of its cam track in the c am wheel 94, the rash 101} is moved downwardly and the shuttle H is moved downwardly, with concurrent rotation of the suction roll S, to draw the web W outwardly away from the web roll R. When, however, the cam follower 95 rides on an increasing radius arc of the cam wheel 94, the raclg 100 will be moved upwardly and the shuttle H will also be moved upwardly.

In accordance with the invention, the leading end portion of the web W carried by the leading end of the shuttle H is transferred to a transfer member and severed from the main body of the web so that it may be delivered to a Work site. The transfer member T has a head portion 112 supported by an arm 114, corresponding to the arm A of FIGS. 1 and 2, which is carried on a shaft 113 that is rotatably journalled between the uprights of frame 10, The head portion 102 is hollow and has a front face 115 formed with apertures 116. The arm 114 is also hollow and its end is adapted to be connected to a suction source (not shown) through a suction hose connection 117 so that a vacuum can be created inside head portion 112 and the air drawn in through the apertures 116 will cause the web portion overlying the face 115 to adhere to it. As seen in FIG. 4, the face 115 is slightly wider than the shuttle H and, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, when the transfer member is in retracted or upright position, the face lies behind the rear wall of the shuttle so that as the shuttle reciprocates downwardly its leading end portion will move in front of the face of the transfer member. The shuttle and the transfer member are related in such manner that only a small clearance, e.g. in., exists between them, the clearance being sufficient, however, to accommodate the web W as it overlies the apertured Wall of the shuttle.

It will be understood that transfer of the leading end portion of the web W from the shuttle to the face of the transfer member is accomplished by control of the suction in the shuttle and in the transfer member. Thus, the suction lines leading to the shuttle and to the transfer member -are provided with valves to interrupt the suction and vent the line to the atmosphere. For example, When the shuttle moves downwardly, a vacuum is drawn in it so that the web W is caused to adhere to its apertured rear wall. At this time, the suction in the transfer member is off. When, however, the shuttle reaches its lowermost point, at which the lower end of its apertured wall overlies the lower end of the apertured face of the transfer member, the suction in the shuttle is cut off and a vacuum is drawn in the transfer member so that the web W is removed from the shuttle and caused to adhere to the apertured face 115 of the transfer member T. This thus frees the shuttle for its return movement to its upper position, which it effects in response to the cam wheel 94 while the suction roll S remains stationary, as already discussed.

The actuation of the valves in the suction lines is, of course, effected in timed relationship with the movements of the shuttle and, for actuating the valves, indicated at 120, there is suitably provided the cam follower 122 which is carried by a cam arm 124 pivoted at 126. The cam follower 122 rides against a surface or outside track 128 of the cam wheel 94. As seen in FIG. 4, the cam arm 124, which is biased at its lower end 130 by a spring 120', actuates a valve rod 131 which suitably actuates the valves in conventional manner and controls the vacuum in the shuttle and in the transfer member.

After the leading end of the web W has been drawn against the apertured face 115 of the head portion 112 of the transfer member, and the shuttle has returned to its uppermost position, means are provided for severing theportion of the web carried by the transfer member from the remainder of the web body. For this purpose, there is provided, as seen in FIG. 5, a stationary knife blade 132 which is suitably carried by the guide plate 77 and has its edge just below the guide plate and at the top of the space between the shuttle in its uppermost position and the head portion 112 of the transfer member. At the same time, there is provided a reciprocating flexible blade 134, corresponding to K in FIG. 1, which is mounted in a guide-way 136 and supported in a casing carried by a rod 137, to move toward and away from the stationary blade 132 to sever the web, the movable blade 134 moving in the space between the lower end of the raised shuttle and the head portion of the transfer member. The rod 137 carries a spring 138 to adjust the tension on the flexible blade 134 to insure a shearing action as blade 134 coacts with stationary blade 132. Movement is imparted to the blade 134 by a cam wheel 140 mounted on cam shaft 85 and engaged by acam follower 142 connected to a lever arm 144. The lever arm 144, which is similar to the lever arm 96, is pivoted and carries a driving rod 146. The driving rod 146 is connected by levers 148 and 149 to the movable blade support casing. It was pointed out above that the suction valves are suitably controlled from the cam wheel 94, but, if desired, each valve for each suction line may be controlled from a different cam. Thus, the valve controlling the suction line to the shuttle may be controlled from the cam wheel 94 in the manner described above, and the suction valve associated I with the transfer member may be controlled from the cam wheel 140 by a cam follower and cam lever construction similar to elements 122 and 124.

Finally, the severed leading end portion of the web W is transferred to the Work site by the transfer member, the work site being suitably located forwardly of the above described device of this invention so that the transfer member can apply the web portion by a forward-downward movement over the work site D. Thus, the Work site or work area may be a rotatable table or turret of known construction formed with suction means to attract the web segment when suction in the transfer member is cut off. From the rotatable table or turret, the web segment is picked up in the usual manner and transferred to the wrapper applying mechanism of a conventional cigar-making machine. For the purpose of moving the transfer member from its upper position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which it receives the web segment, to its lower position, in which it transfers the work segment to the work site, there is suitably provided a further cam wheel 150, also mounted upon the cam shaft 85. Engaging with the cam track of the cam wheel 150 is a cam follower 152 mounted upon a cam lever 154, similar to the cam lever 96, and the cam lever 154 is connected to a driving rod 156 which actuates a rack 158. The rack 158 is in meshing engagement with a pinion wheel 160 which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 113 which carries the arm 114 of the transfer member. Thus, downward movement of the rack 158 will cause the transfer member to pivot forwardly and downwardly, and upward movement of the rack 158 will cause the transfer member to pivot upwardly and rearwardly into the position shown in FIG. 5.

It will, of course, be understood that the various cam wheels have their cam tracks formed to provide the aboveindicated movements in timed relationship with the other movements of the machine, so that the indicated relative movements of parts will take place. Thus, the cam wheel 150 is suitably formed with a cam track such that the transfer member will be pivoted downwardly after the shuttle has returned to its upper position and the movable knife has been drawn across the web to sever the web portion carried by the transfer member from the main web body to provide the desired web segment. Similarly, the transfer member will be returned to its upper rearward position shown in FIG. 5 before the shuttle begins its next downward movement. While the device has been described as being rigidly mounted upon the base 22, and thus in fixed relationship with respect to the work area, it will be understood that the entire assembly may be mounted upon a vertical pivot so that it can be pivoted in one direction or another to adjust its relationship to the work area. In the manufacture of cigar wrappers, for example, different shapes on the work turret can be achieved by adjusting the angle of the wrapper segment as it is laid upon the work turret. Any desired changes in direction can be readily achieved by appropriate pivoting of the machine assembly in relation to the turret. Such pivoting is of particular interest, for example, when the web segment is cut on the bias, as with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Such pivoting of the machine assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 positions the flat wrapper die D with the length thereof at an oblique angle relative to the plane of the suction surface of shuttle H.

It will thus be apparent that various changes and modifications may be madein the embodiments of the invention described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and it is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A process of supplying segments of a tenuous web in the form of oblique-angled parallelograms from a roll thereof in a smooth condition to the flat wrapper die of a cigar-making machine, which comprises the steps of gently pulling out the leading end of the web away from the roll by the combined action of a rotating cylindrical first suction surface and a succeeding rectilinearly-moving fiat second suction surface while both surfaces are moving unidirectionally and while the Web is held to both surfaces by suction, stopping the unidirectional movement of the first and second suction surfaces when the free face of the leading end of the web on the second surface has been brought into overlying relationship with a flat third suction surface, drawing the web to the third surface by applying suction thereto while releasing the suction from the second suction surface, returning the second suction surface while suction is cut off therefrom to its original position so that it is no longer in overlying relationship with the third suction surface, severing at an oblique angle with respect to the rectilinear movement of the second suction surface the leading end of the web carried by the third suction surface from the trailing portion of the web, positioning said flat wrapper die with the length thereof at an oblique angle relative to the plane of the second suction surface, transferring the obliquely severed web segment on the third suction surface to a position over said flat wrapper die, depositing said web segment on said flat wrapper die by releasing the suction from the third suction surface, and reapplying suction to the second suction surface before it again moves unidirectionally together with the first suction surface.

2. A mechanism for dispensing a continuous, tenuous web as web segments in the form of oblique-angled parallelograms and depositing said web segments on the flat wrapper die of a cigar-making machine, which comprises means for rotatably supporting a roll of said web, vacuum roll means for drawing said web from said roll along an arcuate path, said vacuum roll means comprising a hollow cylinder with a perforated surface to hold said web when a vacuum is drawn in said hollow cylinder, rectilinearly reciprocating vacuum shuttle means downstream of said vacuum roll means for simultaneously moving said web in a downward direction, said shuttle means being adapted to move vertically and reciprocatingly away from and toward said vacuum roll means, said shuttle means comprising a hollow casing with a perforated flat surface to hold said web when a vacuum is drawn in said casing and said vacuum roll means being rotatably driven in synchronism with the movement of said shuttle means in only the downward direction of said reciprocating motion, vacuum transfer means cooperating with said shuttle means at the end of the downward movement thereof to receive the leading end portion of the payed out web from said shuttle means and operative to hold the leading end portion of said web while said shuttle means moves in the upward direction, the lower edge of said shuttle means and the upper edge of said transfer means being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the reciprocating motion of said shuttle means, and cutting means disposed at said oblique angle with respect to the reciprocating motion of said shuttle means between said lower edge of said shuttle means and said upper edge of said transfer means and operative to sever obliquely a desired web segment from the payed out web at the end of each upward movement of said shuttle means, said transfer means being effective thereupon to move the obliquely severed web segment to a io sition over said flat wrapper die for the deposition of said web segment thereon, said transfer means comprising a hollow head with a perforated flat surface. to hold said web when a vacuum is drawn in said head, and said flat wrapper die being positioned with the length thereof at an oblique angle relative to the plane of the perforated flat surface of said shuttle means.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wheeler 131-33 Anander 226-95 Wheeler 83-66 Dreher 83--422 1 0 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1960 Great Britain. 3/1959 Italy.

5 WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS OF SUPPLYING SEGMENTS OF A TENUOUS WEB IN THE FORM OF OBLIQUE-ANGLED PARALLELOGRAMS FROM A ROLL THEREOF IN A SMOOTH CONDITION TO THE FLAT WRAPPER DIE OF A CIGAR-MAKING MACHINE, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF GENTLY PULLING OUT THE LEADING END OF THE WEB AWAY FROM THE ROLL BY THE COMBINED ACTION OF A ROTATING CYLINDRICAL FIRST SUCTION SURFACE AND A SUCCEEDING RECTILINEARLY-MOVING FLAT SECOND SUCTION SURFACE WHILE BOTH SURFACES ARE MOVING UNIDIRECTIONALLY AND WHILE THE WEB IS HELD TO BOTH SURFACES BY SUCTION, STOPPING THE UNIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST AND SECOND SUCTION SURFACES WHEN THE FREE FACE OF THE LEADING END OF THE WEB ON THE SECOND SURFACE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH A FLAT THIRD SUCTION SURFACE, DRAWING THE WEB TO THE THIRD SURFACE BY APPLYING SUCTIUON THERETO WHILE RELEASING THE SUCTION FROM THE SECOND SUCTION IS CUT OFF THEREFROM SECOND SUCTION SURFACE WHILE SUCTION IS CUT OFF THEREFROM TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION SO THAT IT IS NO LONGER IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THIRD SUCTION SURFACE, SEVERING AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND SUCTION SURFACE THE LEADING END OF THE WEB CARRIED BY THE THIRD SUCTION SURFACE FROM THE TRAILING PORTION OF THE WEB, POSITIONING SAID FLAT WRAPPER DIE WITH THE LENGTH THEREOF AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF THE SECOND SUCTION SURFACE, TRANSFERRING THE OBLIQUELY SEVERED WEB SEGMENT ON THE THIRD SUCTION SURFACE OF A POSITION OVER SAID FLAT WRAPPER DIE, DEPOSITING SAID WEB SEGMENT ON SAID FLAT WRAPPER DIE BY RELEASING SUCTION TO FROM THE THIRD SUCTION SURFACE, AND REAPPLYING SUCTION TO THE SECOND SUCTION SURFACE BEFORE IT AGAIN MOVES UNIDIRECTIONALLY TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST SUCTION SURFACE. 